A message from paraag marathe

[whitestomper45]

Dear Leeds United supporters,
With the season now finished, following an extraordinary effort by everybody connected to this great football club, I am immensely proud to have achieved our goal of securing another season in the Premier League.
While this year brought memorable highs and difficult moments, Daniel and the squad delivered a special campaign. In a league where promoted clubs usually struggle, survival in our first season back is a significant accomplishment. We are also especially proud to have recorded our first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 and to have reached our first FA Cup semi-final since 1987.
This season, clearly one of the determining factors for the squad was your energy at Elland Road - we collected 32 points on home soil. We will need that energy next season to ensure it remains a fortress.
I said last year that the road ahead would not be easy - that is still true. History shows that the second season in the Premier League can be just as, if not more, challenging as the first. We remain ambitious but measured and deliberate, understanding that it will take three long-fought seasons before we can truly operate like an established Premier League side.
This summer, instead of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) will impact our transfer market approach. As our accounts reflect, we spent every penny possible, as promised, to earn promotion and keep the club in the Premier League. Our approach to the transfer market will once again be strategic and disciplined to comply with regulations while striving further to improve, and players will both arrive and depart as a result.
Remaining in the Premier League allows us to keep building, both on and off the pitch. With our global supporter base, commercial growth opportunities, stadium expansion project, and a world-class football operation, we believe strongly in the future for Leeds United.
I want to thank Daniel, the players, and staff of Leeds United who have worked tirelessly throughout the season to achieve our objective. I would also like to thank you, our supporters, for your tremendous support throughout the campaign that made Elland Road one of the best environments in global football.
There is still important work ahead, and I am incredibly confident about what comes next for Leeds United.
Marching on Together
Paraag Marathe

[Orgoner]

Sensible, obviously.

Let's hope we do crack on, without cracking.

Might be a bum joke in there somewhere. Maybe I should shut up.

[whitestomper45]

Sensible, obviously.

Let's hope we do crack on, without cracking.

Might be a bum joke in there somewhere. Maybe I should shut up.

A crack they say, lets the light in... but maybe the sun don't shine there

[MrsORichSenior_]

some light in here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1l229n3j9go

[whitestomper45]

Some hope so Think Sunday proved as usually expected for a newly promoted side we are short on PL quality in depth.

We gambled a bit on the 3 strikers signed, fair play to the S&C team. Okofor could have a great 2nd season the way Rutter did.... Onwards and upwards...

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

100% and so may of the others came good too.

If the recruitment team does as well again this summer then should give Farke (assuming it?s him) the tools for mid table.

[MrsORichSenior_]

tool for trade ?

old tools can be invaluable in the work box but
i hope it does not suggest more safety first possession football from any coach at LUFC.
regardless of our formations at the back and up front last season all eventually showed the significant effect of being tactically flexible with our players putting shifts in left right and center when asked upon, often when not fully fit, so maybe more to come from some.

as for our incumbent wingers in any system ?
good but not enough to move up a notch, yes James has the pace and team work ethics vision but more required technically for me from him now.
Gnonto is still exactly what ?
still lacks real pace, not an instinctive scorer at pl level and not physical enough to create enough. i love Okafors ability but his fitness and defensive aspects currently limited his team work rate but maybe he could become a regular starter with poke.

as for our defending midfielders now ?
a yes in Ampadu and Stach but their approach will have injury implications and Tanakas just not in their tactical mould regardless of his undoubted quality in trying but big decisions required on Gruev and Longstaff, good players as they are, with Gruev for me offering more in composure on the ball with an ability to break up opposition attacks but he only has 1 year left on his contract.

as for attacking mids ?
quality costs, end of, so it could well be the light weight engine of Aaronson with 1 year left on his contract yet again trying his best against who I hope we may bring in this summer.

as for center backs ?
bottom line is none of ours have pace do they.
this requires diligent covering by other players duties in mopping up and to be honest none of our center backs are comfortable on the ball either playing it out, resulting in the back 3 tactical shift combos within the availability of Bornauwe, Bijol, Struijk and Rodon.

i sincerely hope we dont go all out and buy average players to revert into a back 4 starting line up again with 1 up top, as squad wise tactically it will really require a whole group of new players needed to play and compete against the pl possession game teams of mid table and upper echelon who already have the better classier players with experience.

of course its goals that win games and more points on our travels are a priority also, so its certainly a head scratcher for those in charge to fix those outstanding issues within imposed rules. onwards and upwards hopefully.

MOT

[whitestomper45]

The change from 2026-27 season, replacing PSR with the new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) system, still makes it tough for newly promoted teams for first 3 seasons as Paraag mentions.
Am hoping we land 3-4 new players, but will have to sell to comply.

Of the 3 teams coming up, am hopeful we will finish higher than those

Palace, Florist's and Spuds finished below us. At least 2 of them should improve. Hopefully Fulham and Everton can be caught by us.

Bournemouth, Sunderland, Brighton..... Sunderland were the surprise. Again i think at least 2 of these will struggle with squads not equipped for PL/European slog.
Teams qualifying for Europe, will earn more money but have to spend less of their turnover on SCR to fall in line with European teams 70%, the rest of teams allowed 85% spending, this makes it tough for Sunderland to comply, they were spending 100% this season.

So am not really expecting much different for the next 2 seasons but yes be great to be more on front foot (if we have better signings and those injury prone players continue to strengthen and improve). We were 3rd worst for away points, so something needs changing to away approach particularly.

MOT

[spaldy]

Enjoying the feeling. I remember last year the joy of promotion and trepidation of what we all knew was coming. Like unclogging a sewer pipe under pressure.

I think we are going to steadily improve. I think the 49's are not going to "rest on their laurels". They don't in the 49's and won't here. However, I do think they are going to sell some players that might surprise us all. Part of continuing to improve is knowing that no player is above the rest of the team and must earn their PT. Along those lines I think the 49's are going to change the coach. That last presser was not a good career move.